Paul’s Way of Praying
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to … Colossians 1:9
It would be no exaggeration to say I’ve been to two thousand prayer meetings in my life time. But rarely have I heard people pray down the same lines as the great apostle Paul does here in Colossians 1.
He prays:
(1) that God would fill them with a knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (1:9)
This is a knowledge of God’s whole saving purpose in Christ which brings us back to a knowledge of God Himself (1:10). Paul wants them to have a deep inner sense of who they now are by walking in the newly created human life they’ve received from God.
(2) in order that they might live a life worthy of the Lord and … please him in every way (1:10)
This new life, implanted in every Christian, will lead them to a new lifestyle – a lifestyle that pleases God in every way. This new lifestyle reflects His intention for humanity (Colossians 3:10).
(3) bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (1:10)
What Paul earlier said of the gospel (1:6), he now applies to the Christian in whose life the gospel is at work. In good soil the seed of the gospel grows into a fruit bearing tree. That fruit, like the life of the Christian, always reflects God Himself.
(4) being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might (1:11)
The same power that delivers us from the kingdom of darkness (1:13) now continues to work in us to bring our lives into conformity to God’s new creation in Christ.
(5) so that you might have great endurance and patience (1:11)
If Abraham needed not only faith but patience to see God’s promises over his life fulfilled (Hebrews 6:12), how much more so do we?
(6) joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (1:12)
Thanksgiving is the oil that keeps the machinery of our walking in God’s provision, running smoothly. All Christians are part of God’s new exodus. Our slavery is finished. We’ve been brought out together from the sin of Egypt, our old life, and we’re moving together to our promised inheritance.
Begin praying this way over your life and the lives of others. Your understanding will change and in time, your very life.
To listen to this message, download in MP3 here